Razor stropper



April 1936; I H. B. HARTMAN 2,037,509

RAZOR STROPPER F iled May 11, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 BJEIari/ man,

April 14, 1936. B H AN 2,@37,5@9

RA-ZOR STROPPER Filed May 11, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 A TTORNEY- Patented Apr. 14, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Claims.

This invention relates to razor stropper, and has generally in View to provide a practical sharpener of this character embodying particularly a novel sharpener for the blades of safety razors and including, preferably, a compartment designed for the reception of a safety razor and so disposed relative to the sharpener as to render the device exceptionally compact and therefore particularly suitablefor use by travelers.

The razor blade sharpening device is of the type embodying a pair of sharpening rolls adapted to receive therebetween the blade to be sharpened and to be rotated in opposite directions to effect sharpening of the blade, and in this connection one of the special objects of the invention is to face the rolls in a novel manner with suitable honing material to facilitate sharpening of the blade, and to provide forreadily varying the pressure of the rolls against the blade also to facilitate sharpening thereof.

Another object of the invention is to provide means to adapt the sharpening device to the sharpening of blades of difierent cross sectional shapes.

The device is inclusive of a casing in which the sharpening device is normally contained, and in this connection another object of the invention is to provide for quick and easy insertion of the sharpener into the casing and its removal therefrom whenever and for any purpose desired, and to provide for maintaining the sharpener in correct relation to the casing when the same is disposed therein.

The invention also has in View to provide a device of the character stated which is of strong, sturdy construction, relatively cheap and easy to produce, and which is thoroughly reliable and efiicient in use, and with these and other objects in view, which will become more fully apparent as the nature of the invention is better understood, the same consists in the novel features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts as will be hereinafter more fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings and defined in the appended claims.

In the drawings, wherein like characters of reference denote corresponding parts in the different views:

Figure 1 is a plan view of a device constructed in accordance with one practical embodiment of the invention.

Figure 2 is a longitudinal section therethrough taken approximately on the line 2-2 of Fig. 3.

Figure 3 is an elevation looking toward the right hand end of Fig. 2 with the end closure for the casing removed.

Figure 4 is an elevation looking toward the lefthand end of Fig. 2 with the end closure for the casing'opened.

Figure 5 is a plan view, partly in section, of the sharpener removed from the casing.

Figure 6 is a section on the line 6-6 of Fig. 5.

Figure '7 is a detail section on the line 11 of Fig. 5.

Figure 8 is a cross section illustrating the relation of a blade to the sharpening rolls during sharpening of the blade.

-Figure 9 is a detail cross section taken on the line 9-9 of Figure 5.

Figure 10 is a view similar to Figure 9 showing the dog in inoperative position.

Figure 11 is a detail sectional view illustrating a modified presser bar for the movable sharpening roll; and

Figure 12 is a detail perspective view of an adapter for use with the device.

Referring to the drawings in detail, it will be observed that the device is inclusive of a casing, designated generally as A, which preferably is formed from sheet metal into octagonal or other suitable cross sectional shape, and which is of a diameter and length to accommodate the sharpening device designated generally as B, as well as a safety razor indicated in Figs. 2 and. 4 by dotted lines and designated generally as C.

A transverse partition l0 located near one end of the casing A divides said case into two separate compartments designated as a. and b, respectively, the former of which is adapted to accommodate the head of the razor C and the latter of which is adapted to accommodate the sharpening device B.

The end of the casing adjacent to which is located the partition I 0 is adapted to be closed normally by a cap I l which may be hinged to the casing as indicated at l2, while the opposite end of the casing is adapted to be closed normally by a cap I3 which likewise may be hinged to the easing but which preferably is removable therefrom.

In the top wall of the casing A overlying the compartment b is formed an elongated relatively narrow slot l4 through which a razor blade to be sharpened is adapted to be introduced into the casing inoperative relation to the sharpening device B, while suitably arrangedwithin the compartment a is a receptacle E5 of tubular or other suitable form to contain a tube of paste or other dressing material for the sharpening device.

The sharpening device B is of novel design and is inclusive of a frame comprising inner and outer end plates I6 and I! connected together in spaced relation at their upper edges by a top plate I8 and near their bottom edges by a tube I8 whereby the desired rigidity is imparted to said frame.

The tube I8 at its inner end is open and preferably extends inwardly through and beyond the inner end plate I6, while at its outer end it may be either closed or open and may terminate either in the plane of the outer end plates IT or extend outwardly beyond said end plate as desired.

As shown, the end plates I6 and Il substantially conform in size and shape to the internal cross sectional size and shape of the casing A whereby rotation of the sharpener within the casing is prevented, and to further assist in performing this function, especially in the event the casing is formed of cylindrical cross section, the partition I!) is provided with an opening to receive the inner end of the tube I8 when the sharpener is operatively disposed within the casing. Thus, no special fasteners are required to retain the sharpener operatively disposed within the casing, and therefore, by opening or removing the cap I3 the sharpener may readily be removed from the easing whenever and for any purpose desired and may equally as readily be operatively replaced within the casing. In this connection it is pointed out that while any suitable means may be provided to predetermine the innermost or operative position of the sharpener relative to the casing, means for performing this purpose may readily and conveniently be provided by extending the inner end of one of the roller shafts of the sharpener inwardly beyond the plate I6 for abutting engagement with the partition Iii.

Journaled at its ends in the end plates I6 and I! of the sharpener frame at points located to one side of the vertical centers of said plates is a rotatable hollow shaft I9 mounted in a fixed position in the plates I6 and IT. This shaft carries a roller 20 and a spur gear 2|, which latter is disposed adjacent to the inner face of the outer end plate.

The outer end plate at a point located in lateral spaced relation to the shaft I9 and in horizontal alignment therewith, is pressed inwardly or is otherwise suitably formed or provided with an inwardly directed hub or boss 22 on which is journaled a spur gear 23 disposed in mesh with the spur gear 2I, while carried by said gear 23 is an inwardly directed pin designated as 24.

The hub or boss 22 is provided with a lateral slot 25 and the inner end plate I6 is provided with an aligned lateral slot 26, and in said slots are mounted the ends of a shaft 2'! on which is journalled a roller 28 carrying at its outer end a plate 29 provided with a radial slot 30 in which is disposed the pin 24 of the spur gear 23. Thus, while the mounting of the shaft 21 in the slots 25, 26 of the end plates I6 and I! provides for lateral movement of the roller 28 towards and away from the roller 20, and while the gears 2| and 23 have fixed axes of rotation whereby their meshed relation remains constant irrespective of lateral movement of the roller 28, the pin and slot connection 24-3EI between the gear 23 and the shiftable roller 28 provides for rotation of the latter by the gear 23 in any laterally moved position of said roller relative to the roller 20.

The hollow shaft I9 is flanged inwardly at its outer end as indicated at I9 and is also provided with a lateral opening 3!. Slidable within the shaft is a clutch member 32, the same ineluding an eccentrically mounted dog 33 adapted to cooperate with the opening 3| as will be apparent from Figures 9 and 10. When the member 32 is pulled to the outward limit in the hollow shaft I9 and rotated in the direction of the arrow in Figure 9, the dog 33 by reason of its pivotal eccentric mounting will enter the opening 3I and thus rotatably lock together the clutch member 32 and the hollow shaft I9. On the other hand, when the clutch member 32 is rotated in the reverse direction, as shown by the arrow in Figure 10, the clutch dog 33 will be held inwardly by centrifugal force and thereby not enter the opening 3 I. Thus, the movement of the clutch member 32 with reference to the hollow shaft I9 is idle in one direction. The purpose of this movement is to prevent movement of the sharpening rollers in such a direction that their sharpening surfaces will be cut or damaged when a blade is in position or being sharpened. That is to say, this arrrangement permits ofv the movement of the rolls only in one direction, namely a direction to sharpen the blade, and by no possibility can the sharpening rolls be damaged by rotating in the wrong direction.

Pivoted to the outer end of the member 32, as at 34, is an arm 35 which is movable to a position in alinement with the member for sliding movement therewith toa concealed or inoperative position within the shaft I 9 as shown in Fig. 2, and to a position at right angles to said member when the latter is moved to a position near the outer end of the shaft I9, as illustrated in Fig. 5. At its outer end the arm 35 has pivoted thereto, as at 36, a handle element 31 in which is threaded a screw 38 the inner end of which is adapted for selective engagement in either of two notches 39 and 40 located respectively in the end and one side of the arm to hold the handle either in a position aligned with the arm for movement therewith into the hollow shaft I9, or in a position at right angles to the arm for cooperation therewith to constitute a crank for rotating the shaft I9 thus to effect rotation of. the rollers 2I and 28 as is apparent.

Yieldable means are provided to urge the roller 28 normally away from the roller 20 so that the sharpening rolls are spaced apart as shown in Figure 5 when the blade is inserted. After the blade is inserted and positioned as shown in Figure 8, the sharpening rolls may be moved together or toward each other as shown in the latter figure by means of presser member D, and according to whether or not a light or heavy honing is desired, more or less pressure can be exerted on the shiftable roller 28. Each of the plates I6 and I1 carries a stud or screw 4|, and on each stud or screw is mounted the medial portion of a U-shaped spring 42, constituting the yieldable means above referred to. One end of each spring extends through or is otherwise suitably connected with the exposed end of the shaft 21 and the other end of each spring is engaged with a stud 43. Therefore, it will be apparent that the arms of the spring 42 normally force the sharpening rolls apart, and in order to control the movement of the shiftable sharpening r011 toward the relatively fixed sharpening roll 28, the manually manipulated presser means D may be provided.

As will be observed from Figures 2, 3, 5 and 6, the said presser means referred to includes in its organization a presser frame comprising a bar 23 having the oifset end flanges 43*, the lower corners of which are pivoted as at 43 to the plates l6 and I1 while the upper edges 43 are adapted to engage with-the projecting ends of the shaft 21. 'The bar 43 is accessible for finger pressure through an opening E in the casing A so that when the device is held in the hand, finger pressure may be applied to the bar 43* to move the same from the position shown in Figure 6 to that shown in Figure 8. Clearly, according to the degree of finger pressure applied to the bar 43 the desired amount of pressure may be imposed on the edge of the blade gripped between the sharpening surfaces of the rolls 20 and 28. When finger pressure is released from the bar 43 the springs 42 will move the bar back to its normal position, namely that shown in Figure 6.

A modified form of presser bar D is shown in Figure 11. The essential difference between the bar and the bar shown in Figure 6 is that the former is pivoted while the latter is slidably mounted on the plates l6 and I1. Referring to Figure l l, the part D includes the arm portions 43 which are slotted as indicated at 43 for guiding engagement with the pin 43 When the portion of the presser bar D which projects through the opening E of the casing A, is subjected to finger pressure, the arms 43, in which the shaft 21 is mounted, will move toward the fixed sharpening roll against the resistance of the spring 42.

While the rollers 2 l 28 may be faced with any suitable razor blade honing or sharpening material, it is preferred to wind strips 44 of leather or similar material spirally on said rollers in opposite directions, respectively, as illustrated in Fig. 5, whereby when a razor blade r, is disposed between the rollers and the latter are rotated the strips exert a wiping sharpening action longitudinally of the blade.

Formed in the top plate I8 of the sharpener frame is a longitudinally extending slot 45 through which a razor blade to be sharpened is adapted to be introduced between the rollers 2|, 2!, while on top of said plate 18, one to either side of said slot 45 is arranged a pair of plates 45 45 the adjacent edges of which are adapted to constitute abutments to support a razor blade at of the flaring cross sectional type illustrated in Figs. 2 and 8 in operative relation to the sharpener rollers.

The adjacent edges of the plates 45 preferably are recessed as indicated at 46 to provide shoulders 41 to be engaged by the ends of the razor blade to hold the same against endwise movement, and in order that said plates may be adjusted toward and away from each other to permit any particular blade to be supported in correct relation to the sharpening rollers, said plates are transversely slotted as indicated at 48 and are secured to the frame plate I8 by clamping screws 49 passing through said slots.

When the sharpener B is operatively disposed within the casing A the slot 45 in the top plate l8 of the sharpener frame, and the slot formed between the adjacent edges of the plates 45 45 underlie the slot l4 in the casing A. Thus, it is apparent that a. razor blade to be sharpened is insertable through the slot l4 and between the plates 45 45 with its cutting edge disposed between the sharpening rollers 2!, 28, which latter are urged apart by the springs 42. When the blade is in place the frame D is pressed in so that the rollers engage the blade. As rotation of the rollers is eifected by manipulating the handle 35 the rollers 28 and 2| sharpen or hone the opposite faces of the blade.

As is of course understood, when a blade is to be sharpened the crank handle 35 is shifted or moved through the opening it of the cap l3 and the crank handle is moved to the position shown in Fig. 5 extending beyond the cap l3 of the casing A for effecting rotation of the rollers.

The tube le affords a compartment for the re ception of the handle of the safety razor C3, the head of which is adapted to be received within the compartment a and as is manifest, the razor is removable from and insertable into the casing through the end thereof that is normally closed by the cap II. In this connection the provision of the tube l8 to receive the razor handle, in association with the other structural features of the device as shown and described obviously renders the device desirably compact as heretofore mentioned.

To adapt the device for sharpening fiat razor blades, i. e., razor blades which are relatively thin and of substantially uniform thickness throughout, a pair of blade supporting devices or adaptors of the character illustrated in F1 12 may be employed. Each such device is formed from a strip of sheet metal suitably bent to provide a hook element 50 and a depending arm 5i turned upon itself to provide a cradle 52. One such device is adapted to be mounted at each end of the slot 44 in the top plate it of the sharpener frame by engaging the hook element 50 over the end portion of the plate it with the arm 5| depending through said slot the cradles 52 thus being disposed to receive the usual projecting end portions of a razor blade of the fiat type to support the blade in operative relation to the sharpening rollers.

Without further description it is thought that the features and advantages of the invention will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and it will of course be understood that changes in the form, proportion and minor details of construction may be resorted to, without departing from the spirit of the invention and scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a device of the character described, a razor blade sharpening device comprising a pair of end plates, a shaft journaled in said end plates, 9; sharpening roller on said shaft, means for rotating said shaft, the end plates having slots, a second shaft mounted at its ends in said slots for lateral movement toward and from said first shaft, a sharpening roller journaled on said second mentioned shaft for cooperation with said first mentioned roller, yieldable means normally urging said second mentioned shaft and roller away from said first mentioned shaft and roller, means for pressing the rollers together, means for supporting a razor blade in operative relation to said rollers with the edge of the blade disposed between the rollers, and a constant drive connection between said first mentioned shaft and said second mentioned roller comprising a gear on said first mentioned shaft and a cooperating gear rotatably mounted on one of the end plates and operatively connected with said second mentioned roller so that the latter may move laterally relative thereto.

2. In a device of the character described, a razor blade sharpening device comprising a shaft, means for rotating the same, a sharpening roller fixed to said shaft, a second shaft mounted for lateral movement toward and from said first shaft, a sharpening roller rotatably mounted on said second mentioned shaft, yieldable means normally urging said second mentioned shaft and roller away from said first mentioned shaft and roller, means for pressing the rollers together, means for supporting a razor blade in operative relation to said rollers with the edge of the blade disposed therebetween, and a constant drive connection between said first mentioned shaft and said second mentioned roller, said connection comprising a gear on the first mentioned shaft, a second gear meshing with said first gear and having its axis of rotation fixed with respect to the axis of rotation of said first mentioned shaft, and a driving connection between said second mentioned gear and said second mentioned roller permitting lateral shifting movement of the latter relative to the former.

3. In a device of the character described, a razor blade sharpening device comprising a frame inclusive of a pair of end plates, a shaft journaled in said end plates, a sharpening roller and a gear wheel fixed to said shaft, means for rotating said shaft, a second shaft mounted in said end plates for lateral movement toward and from said first mentioned shaft and roller, a sharpening roller rotatably mounted on said second mentioned shaft, yieldable means normally urging said second mentioned shaft and roller away from said first mentioned shaft and roller, means for pressing the rollers together, a, gear wheel carried by one of said end plates and in mesh with said first mentioned gear wheel and having its axis of rotation fixed with respect to said end plate, a drive connection between said second mentioned gear wheel and said second mentioned roller, and means for supporting a razor blade in operative relation to said rollers with the edge of the blade disposed between said rollers.

4. In a device of the character described, a

razor blade sharpening device comprising a frame inclusive of a pair of end plates, a shaft journaled in said end plates, a sharpening roller and a gear wheel fixed to said shaft, means for rotating said shaft, a second shaft mounted in said end plates for lateral movement toward and from said first mentioned shaft and roller, a sharpening roller rotatably mounted on said second mentioned shaft, yieldable means tending to urge said second mentioned shaft and roller away from said first mentioned shaft and roller, means for pressing the rollers together, a gear wheel carried by one of said end plates and in mesh with said first mentioned gear wheel and having its axis of rotation fixed with respect to said end plate, a pin and slot drive connection between said second mentioned gear and said second mentioned roller whereby said gear is effective to drive said roller in different lateral positions of the same relative to the first mentioned roller, and means for supporting a razor blade in operative relation to said rollers with the edge of the blade disposed between said rollers.

5. In a device of the character described, a razor blade sharpening device comprising a frame inclusive of a pair of end plates and a top connecting plate, a pair of sharpening rollers supported by said end plates, means for rotating said rollers, said top plate having a slot for the insertion of a razor blade into operative relation with said rollers with the edge of the blade disposed between said rollers, and adaptor devices for supporting a blade in operative relation to said rollers, each adapter device comprising a hook element for engagement with said top plate, an arm depending from said hook element, and a cradle element formed on said arm to receive an end portion of a razor blade.

HARRY BUXTON HARTMAN. 

